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The Good Girl
2002 93 min Netherlands, Germany, United States of America R 18+
★6.5
Drama, Comedy, Romance
Director: Miguel Arteta
Trailers
Description
A discount store clerk strikes up an affair with a stock boy who considers himself the incarnation of Holden Caulfield.
Budget:
$8M
US Gross:
$14.02M
Worldwide:
$16.9M
Starring
Jennifer Aniston
Actor
Jake Gyllenhaal
Actor
Deborah Rush
Actor
Awards
5 wins & 16 nominations total
Key opinion
The Good Girl is widely recognized as a compelling character study that successfully transitions Jennifer Aniston into dramatic roles, anchored by her nuanced performance alongside a raw, unstable portrayal from Jake Gyllenhaal. While some viewers find the film’s bleak, quiet pacing and small-town ennui tedious, others praise its authentic, somber look at the struggles of provincial adulthood.
| Acting | Jennifer Aniston delivers a career-defining dramatic performance, effectively shedding her sitcom persona to portray a weary, disillusioned woman. | |
| Acting | Jake Gyllenhaal provides a natural and evocative portrayal of an unstable, alienated youth, anchoring the film’s darker emotional beats. | |
| Theme | The film succeeds as a grounded, intimate exploration of existential boredom and the desperate human need for connection in stagnant environments. | |
| Pacing | The contemplative, slow-burning pace polarizes the audience; supporters find it mirrors the characters' internal stillness, while detractors describe it as boring or uneventful. | |
| Acting | The romantic chemistry between the leads is subject to debate, with some viewers seeing a profound connection and others finding the relationship cold and unconvincing. |